Where does “pussywhip” come from?
pussywhip (English) comes from English pussy, from English pursy, from Middle English pursyf, from Anglo-Norman porsif, from French poussif, from French pousser, from Latin pulsare, from Latin pulso — to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold.
pussywhip (English): To dominate a partner, especially by sexual...
Definitions
- To dominate a partner, especially by sexual...
Ancestry of “pussywhip”, step by step
| Step | Language | Word | Meaning |
|---|
| 1 | English | pussy | A cat; An affectionate term for a woman or girl,... |
| 2 | English | pursy | Out of breath; short of breath, especially due to... |
| 3 | Middle English | pursyf | — |
| 4 | Anglo-Norman | porsif | — |
| 5 | French | poussif | wheezy |
| 6 | French | pousser | to push; to urge on, encourage; to grow |
| 7 | Latin | pulsare | present active infinitive of pulsō; second-person... |
| 8 | Latin | pulso | I push, strike, beat, batter, hammer; knock on;... |
| 9 | Latin | pulsus | pulse, impulse, beat, stroke; expelled, kicked... |
| 10 | Latin | pellō | — |
| 11 | Proto-Italic | pelnō | approach, go to; bring close |
| 12 | Proto-Indo-European | pelh₂- | to approach |
| 13 | Proto-Indo-European | pel- | to cover, to wrap; skin, hide, cloth; to fold |